Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association

Newsletter Spring 2005

Neighborhood News

Landmark property may be sold for development
The owners of 4.75 acres at the corner of Briar Creek Road and Central Avenue have signed an intent to sell, contingent on a rezoning from multi-family (R-22) to a category which will allow a mix of residential and commercial use. This use was called for in the Merry Oaks/Briar Creek Woodland Small Area Plan, approved by City Council in November of 1998.
The land is owned by Charlotte East activist Nancy Plummer and her son Eric. She and her husband Ray, who passed away in early April, have lived there since the 1970’s. The house was built in the 1930’s by the Wolfe family, who farmed this area. The original farmhouse on the same spot had been destroyed in a fire.
Three firms are involved in the proposed project: The Tuscan Group, a residential developer; Neighboring Concepts, architects, and MarkPiercePoole, retail developers. The building and landscape design and tenants have not yet been announced.
Their intention is to apply for the rezoning by the end of June. The public hearing would be in September, with a City Council vote in October. The sale of the land is contingent on the rezoning.
Given the strategic position of this piece of land and its potential to impact the future direction of the area, it’s likely that City Planning staff will scrutinize the proposed design carefully before making its recommendation to City Council regarding rezoning. With Nancy Plummer’s blessing, a small group of interested neighbors have formed a preliminary design review team. Eventually, all the neighbors will be invited to comment.

Cate’s Commentary
Hello Neighbors! It’s great to see the arrival of summer. This spring has been absolutely beautiful with all the green lawns, flowers, azalea shrubs, leaves on the trees and fresh beds of mulch. I look forward to the hot weather and gorgeous hydrangea blooms in our neighborhood. As outdoor activities increase, please be extra observant of children, cyclists, walkers and joggers. Remember that the speed limit is 25mph in Merry Oaks.
The nicer weather also brings other issues to the forefront. This includes an increase in vandalism, burglary and questionable solicitation of goods or services. Do not hesitate to call the police and board members if you see anything suspicious. Getting to know your neighbors is one of the best defenses against crime. Try it!
The Board has been working diligently on a number of important and exiting issues. I invite you all to come to the general meeting Thursday, June 16th at 7:00pm at Merry Oaks Elementary school to find out what’s happening in our neighborhood. I also request that if you have any compliments, concerns or ideas for our neighborhood to please feel free to express them. Participation is open to anyone in the neighborhood.
In conclusion, I want to thank the many residents who provide feedback to this Board and assume certain responsibilities that enhance the safety and enjoyment of our neighborhood. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Have a great summer!
Cate Martin

Neighborhood Tidbit
When the founding board members of this neighborhood association first proposed naming the Neighborhood “Merry Oaks”, some neighbors protested. They said the real estate agents call it County Club Hills, so why should we name it after a school? The board members thought Merry Oaks had more flavor, and wanted to distinguish it from the adjacent Country Club and Country Club Heights, from which we are separated by The Park Apartments.
Now we have more justifcation for calling ourselves Merry Oaks. Silas Wolfe, a Civil War veteran who purchased a great expanse of land east of Briar Creek along Lawyers Road ( now Central Avenue), chose to build his large family a house atop the hill where they could gaze over the fields toward the creek. The location? Where the Woodmere Condominiums now stand. The name of his estate? Merry Oaks. Flynnwood Drive is named after his son, Flynn Wolfe. The Plummer house and the brick Renfrow house at Briar Creek and Central were both built by descendents of the Wolfes had who inherited pieces of the farm.

Mark Your Calendars Now!
2005 General meeting schedule June 16, October 20
2006 General meeting schedule February 16
Creek Walk Oct. TBA - Contact Jasper 704-537-9765 or jwparham@bellsouth.net

Neighborhood News & Updates
Central Avenue Streetscape
Landscaping on Central Ave between Morningside Drive and Eastway Drive is partially completed. Trees which grow low (Maples) and thus are appropriate for under power lines, were unavailable this planting season. Our plan is to obtain these trees and plant them in the upcoming planting season which will begin this November.
Intersection treatments are planned for Eastcrest, Briarcreek, and Rosehaven. These intersections have high pedestrian traffic and will have pedestrian scale lighting (decorative lamps) and specially marked crosswalks. The planning and design of these intersection treatments is underway with installation planned for this summer.
The next phase of the Central Ave. work is now underway and scheduled for completion by early summer. This work will continue the streetscape project from Sharon Amity Road to Reddman Road. Like the other phases of the work this project will include new wider sidewalks, bike lanes, pedestrian refuge medians, and landscaping. We are now in the public involvement and comment phase of the project with our next public meeting scheduled for June 28th at the Eastland Mall meeting room. This project will tie in with the new bus facility being planned for Central Avenue along the Eastland Mall property.
Questions or comments on the work on Central Avenue that has been completed or any work that is planned should be directed to the City’s project manager, Keith Carpenter, at (704) 336-3650.

Merry Oaks Campus Park update
On April 18 about a dozen neighbors met with park planners regarding developing the Merry Oaks School campus as a joint-use project between Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department (MCPRD) and Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) This has been planned for several years but was delayed while they built the new school.
With a $150,000 construction and design budget, there is not enough money to do everything now, so it will be developed in phases. As per the expressed priorities of the meeting participants, Phase One will include hard surface trails, a picnic area with grill and shelter, benches and a native plant garden.
In addition, a 10-foot wide trail with native plant borders will connect the campus to Merry Oaks Road. This should open up the campus to more users and thus more “eyes on the park” for safety. It will also allow more children to walk to school using the park trails.
As a neighborhood park, there will be no vehicular access or parking beyond what is already provided for the school. Projected completion for Phase One is summer 2006.
Future phases will include upgrades to the field and a tennis court. Options are being explored to upgrade the field sooner, since currently it is very rough and cannot be safely used for some sports.
MCPRD will also survey and master plan the wooded and kudzu-covered areas owned by CMS on the edges of the property, for additional trail and connectivity potential.
Questions? Contact Central District II General Manager Neil Carroll carrorn@co.mecklenburg.nc.us or 704-353-1237.

New streetlights
The third and final phase for the news streetlights in Merry Oaks should begin soon. This phase will include the rest of Arnold Drive, Harbinger, Ferguson Court, Pickens Court and Cosby. Mostly they will just install new lamps that focus the light downward, minimizing glare and spillover into yards and windows. Volunteers are needed to take the maps around and get signatures from the residents. Please call Nancy at 704 535 7409 or email nancypierce@carolina.rr.com if you can volunteer or if you have questions.
Phase III will include correcting two problems in the vicinity of the Merry Oaks Road and Arnold Drive intersection. A lamp will be replaced where it’s removal created a huge dark space. Also a lamp will be removed where it is too bright.

Central Avenue Streetcar
Planning is continuing for CATS’ Central Avenue streetcar system, which will be constructed between 2007-2025. The first phase, due for completion in 2009, will extend from Johnson C. Smith University down Trade Street and Elizabeth Avenue to Presbyterian Hospital and perhaps to The Plaza. The second phase will extend the line from Hawthorne or The Plaza out Central Avenue to Eastland Mall, with completion in 2015. Other lines will extend from Johnson C. Smith University to I-85 via Beaties Ford Road, and provide circulation in the center city.
Currently the project is in the conceptual design phase, with issues such as exact path, station stops, which lane(s) will be used by the streetcar being decided. Final engineering begins in January with construction beginning a year later. Merry Oaks is represented on the Citizens’ Advisory Board for the project by MONA Board member Tom Poston. The project manager for the entire CATS Streetcar system, Willie Noble, will make a presentation about the project at the June 16 Merry Oaks neighborhood meeting. By Tom Poston

Neighborhood Improvement Project
More than a year after their planting, most of the streetscape trees along Graybark, Draper, Flynnwood, and in the traffic circle are doing well.
Due to a delay in a project that was tied in with ours, the warranty on our streetscape trees was extended until Autumn 2005, when the final inspection will be made by the city. Any dead or dying trees will be replaced at that time. The hold-down stakes and vinyl strips securing some of the trees are beginning to deteriorate and can be removed at any time; they were only intended to secure the trees in the ground until their roots had a chance to be established. Please remember that although the trees themselves are the property of the City of Charlotte, their care is the responsibility of the homeowner. Water and feed your trees regularly and they will provide years of beauty for our neighborhood! By Tom Poston

Neighborhood Police

One of the Merry Oaks area Community Coordinators, Officer Chris McNeil, was promoted to detective and now works downtown at the Law Enforcement Center. Officer R.C. (Travis) Childs has joined Officer Trish Edwards as our community coordinators. If you have general concerns you can call the Eastway Division at 704-336-8535, and it is generally staffed weekday business hours except for over the lunch hour. You can also leave messages for specific officers. Here is some contact information:

COMMUNITY COORDINATORS
Officer Trish Edwards (voicemail) 704 432 3434 Mailbox #2 tedwards@cmpd.org
Officer R.C. (Travis) Childs (voicemail) 704 432 3441 Mailbox #6 rchilds@cmpd.org

TRAFFIC CONCERNS
Officer Ted Barber 704 432 3435 Mailbox #2 tbarber@cmpd.org
Officer Keith Swaney 704 432 3442 #4 kswaney@cmpd.org
Officer Steven Bagley 704 432 3439 #6 sbagley@cmpd.org

STREET CRIMES AND DRUG TRAFFICING
Sgt. Tonya Arrington 704 432 3431 tarrington@cmps.org

Neighbors Corner and Environmental

habitat for mosquito breeding. Mosquitoes, which can travel up to 300 yards from their breeding area, carry malaria, encephalitis, and West Nile virus, as well as being incredibly irritating to most people.
Another pesky class of litter in our creek is shopping carts. On Tuesday, May 17th, Richard Stenhouse and I removed 4 shopping carts and parts of a bicycle from the Briar Creek tributary next to Hillcrest Apartments. Earlier that day, I had removed 4 other shopping carts from the Arnold Drive entrance to our neighborhood. When those carts stay in the water, I wonder what sort of things leach from them. Besides, whoever removed them from the store property was, technically, stealing. I wonder if citizens arrest would apply to people illegally using shopping carts!

How to Get Free Money
The Urban Cost Share program will pay up to 75% (up to $3000) to residents in the Briar Creek watershed (that’s us!) for water quality projects on your property. This can include landscaping, water barrels, compost bins, drainage issues and so on. You can even use the money to pay someone else to do the work! Call Erin Oliverio at 704 336-2455 and she can give you some ideas on what you can do. Or you can check it out (and get applications) on-line at www.mecklenburgconservation.com. (Click “here”). Several neighbors have already applied. Deadlines are July 1 and October 1, 2005.